JAP. BATTLESHIPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 55, 20 May 1942, Page 2

JAP. BATTLESHIPS

50,00C-TON CRAFT TWO I X COMMISSION Japan now iias in corn mission two ;;0,000-ton battleships, largest in the world, with, it is be'ieA'ed, lfi-ineh guns. Their completion was the signal for Japan's cut it into the war. This information is now accepted as conclusive in London, indicating that Japan's, mystery naval programme was vaster than anybody had imagined. Previous estimates of Japan's mystery battleships ranged .from JO,OOO to 45,000 tons. / Britain's new battleships, the Lion and the Temeraire, arc of JO,OOO tons, but there is no evidence that they are yet in commission. America has started to build 45,000-ton-ners. Japan kept the majority of her secrets as well as, and perhaps letter than, Russia and Germany, but a few details of the extent of Japan's preparations have latety become known, suggesting that they -were* more formidable even than was suggested by the speed and completeness of recent successes. AM this may seem overwhelming, but there is reason to believe that the Allied Governments, while ready for further serious reverses, think that, by the middle of the year, Japan will be halted. British and American naval strength should make itself really felt in the Pacific then, and undoubtedly our strateg}- is being worked out on this basis.